Premier League

Chelsea ‘waste of money’ and defender who ‘can’t defend’ slammed after Real Madrid defeat

Cucurella Chelsea

Two Chelsea stars were torn apart by Dutch analysts Jan Boskamp and Wesley Sneijder after their performances against Real Madird on Wednesday.

Goals from Karim Benzema and Marco Asensio were enough to see of a meek Chelsea in first leg of their Champions League quarter-final in the Bernabeu.

The scoreline flattered Chelsea, with Madrid having a further eight shots on target against the Blues, whose defending was all over the place for much of the game.

And Marc Cucurella – who came on for the injured Kalidou Koulibaly in the 55th minute – came under fire after the game, with Boskamp claiming “he had no idea” what he was doing.

“Really unbelievable,” Boskamp said regarding the Spaniard.

“I can imagine that boy playing as a full back, but as a defender he had no idea. That happens regularly because he can’t defend at all. It was really very mediocre and I’m saying it nicely.”

“Who brings in a guy like that,” Sneijder added, before putting the boot in to fellow summer recruit Wesley Fofana.

“There are a few more like that running around. That Wesley Fofana too, recruited for €80m, that really is a waste of money. Maybe the pressure is too high at such a big club.”

Jamie Carragher was similarly critical of Cucurella, insisting his body position was all wrong in the lead up to Ben Chilwell’s red card.

Speaking on CBS Sports, Carragher explained: “When you play in Europe, it feels different from playing in the Premier League. At times it’s slower – it almost feels like a charity game! Look at everyone, how slow everyone is.

“And this, for me, is European football: how Real Madrid change the pace of this game. Everyone stood still, standing in position, then Rodrygo gets his touch and before you know it ‘Boom!’ the pace in the game is quick.

“But look at the body position here of Rodrygo compared to Cucurella. He is already on his way, Cucurella still hasn’t changed his body position to run back and on the far side, Ben Chilwell, when one of your centre-backs steps out the wing-back has to come in and fill that space.

“You can’t do everything you’d like to do as a defender [against rapid players]. You’d like to be tight and aggressive, but you’ve also got to remember who you’re playing against.

“Rodrygo is lightning-quick, so you can’t go fully in. Cucurella doesn’t go fully in, he gives himself a couple of yards – which is okay – but his problem is he doesn’t react!

“When the ball goes…

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